Fretmentor Testimonials

Fretmentor Users Provide Testimonials About Fretmentor

Testimonials - About Fretmentor's

Classes, Lessons & Teaching Methods.

Reanea Hunter

All my life I dreamed of playing guitar but always believed I had no musical aptitude or ability. I had failed at every musical endeavor I ever started. Less than one year ago I decided to give music one more chance and attempt to learn guitar. I downloaded a series of guitar aps on my phone to help me along. I asked friends of mine who played the guitar to give me some pointers. I watched many YouTube videos on how to play. After a few months of all this effort I was frustrated and felt I had gone nowhere. Then I found one of fretmentor's adult guitar classes at the local high school and thought I'd try that. It was a start. I finally felt like I could learn this stuff. It was enough for me to at least have the faith to continue on. So I began private lessons with David until I felt comfortable enough to attend the Wednesday night bluegrass class where I started to see some progress. Almost a year later I'm still playing, taking lessons and classes, and thoroughly enjoying the journey of learning guitar thanks to David. He is extremely patient, encouraging, knowledgable, and has an endless supply of cool musical tips and tricks to teach students at any age and any level!

Tom Cauffield (Parent of Jon C)

I have enjoyed watching the lessons between my son and Mr. Jakubiak. As a teacher I will say that I appreciate the approach Mr. Jakubiak takes in teaching music. I sit through many of the lessons, watching and listening to the interactions. Mr. Jakubiak has worked with my son for 5 years, beginning with a child who has never before played guitar. His targets lay not only in skills and scales, but the enjoyment of music. One of the things I most appreciate about his process of teaching is the use of well-known and popular songs to teach skills rather than something out of a how to learn guitar book. White Christmas was used to teach slides. Strumming patterns with Hotel California. Within popular songs he was also able to teach the nuances of music theory.

Perry Harris

Since I am no longer in Florida to take lessons in person with fretmentor, I have found it quite valuable to keep working with Dave on a regular basis over the internet using Skype. The hookup is quite painless and the sessions seem to be as effective as they are when I am with you in person. As you know, I have taken lessons from my home in Newport, my apartment in New York City, and even on my boat at various locations. The boat sessions worked well even though the internet was through my iphone. I plan to continue my banjo lessons through Fretmentor as I feel I am making solid progress.

Liam Spenser

I have been taking skype lessons from FretMentor and I have been taking them for a while now. I am studying abroad in Ecuador now and it has been really helpful to use Skype to take lessons so I can continue to take them while I am away and not miss anything. We do them regularly and have a time and it has been great because I get to continue my practices even when I am not in the same country. I'm glad I have this opportunity because I get to learn more and continue with what I already know and practice and not lose anything while I am gone for these 2 months.

Dave Lamont

I have been playing since 2005. Little did I know that my encounter with the Fretmentor would unlock so many mysteries about the guitar, and learning this language called music. My first encounter with the Fretmentor, Dave Jakubiak was around 2006 when I attended one of his Adult Education classes for guitar in Palm Beach Gardens. It was while attending this class that I was introduced to his Bluegrass class that he hosts in Jupiter on Wednesday nights. This class focuses on the fundamentals of playing with other musicians. It was in this class where i learned important skills that would lay the foundation for where my playing is today. Dave had challenged me several times about taking private lessons, of course I procrastinated. Big mistake! I finally made the decision to take private lessons from Dave in 2012, and I consider that to have been the wisest decisions in my music experience. Dave was right, private lessons literally does speed a player thru much of the pitfalls of learning music on our own. Some are gifted with the ability to learn this language called music, but if you aren’t, like myself, private lessons are the only way to advance quickly, and my one hour per week time with Dave is very productive. While many guitar teachers focus mainly on teaching a student how to play songs and chords, Dave teaches the technical composition of the song and the chords, breaking them down to their very fundamental parts. I cannot stress the importance of learning these fundamentals, it really does make you a better player. My favorite music is Blues and rock, and I play rhythm acoustic and electric guitar with my church’s worship band. My church’s worship leader has expanded my responsibilities to include lead play as well for certain songs. With the Fretmentor’s help, my experience with the guitar can only grow from here, and I know there is more to experience along this trip on the musical road.

Stephanie Carta

Dave is an excellent instructor in many ways. He's helping me break bad habits that I've developed by teaching myself on banjo (and guitar) such as issues with timing, technique and dynamics. Dave is great with telling what your weaknesses are so you know what to practice for the rest of the week. I have found that many instructors cannot, or will not, be critical in that way towards their students, and it does not help you to not have that criticism. He has written instructional cd-roms but is also open to teaching songs you would like to learn. We're working on some JD Crowe right now.

Dave has real life experience as a banjo player as well, so he can help with the skills you need to play with other musicians. I am also taking another group lesson that he gives to do just that, as well as continuing with private instruction. Again, I have found that many other teachers are bedroom players and cannot help you with this. Dave is highly recommended by me for all. He's a bluegrass/acoustic music enthusiast in an area of the country where those values are in short supply.

Chris Kinzel

Lots of good players offer lessons, but not all can teach. Dave has the rare gift of being able to both teach and play, and he does both well. I had some musical education as a kid, and tried to teach myself guitar. Since starting with Dave, I have learned more about music theory and its practical application than I could have stumbled across in years of aimless self study. He is helping me learn both the music and the instrument, and I know I will be a better player for it. I've got a long way to go before anyone will mistake me for a banjo picker, but I'm on the right road, with a plan.

I know what I'm supposed to be doing, and why, and that's what a good instructor does for you. With practice on my part, I will have the skills to get there. I believe that whatever your skill level, Dave can help you be a better musician. He has the patience and teaching ability to get the beginner started with confidence, and the knowledge and skill to help the experienced player better understand both music and technique.

Gonzalo Martinez

Excellent instructor that works hard to make sure every lesson counts. Has a good feel for when to push and demand more from the student and when to encourage and keep it fun. Well versed in music theory and will not settle for teaching one to play a repertoire of songs from wrote memory. His instructional C/D’s, which are based on actual recorded material, are an excellent learning tool. The material is presented as both a single instrument; banjo, mandolin or guitar, as well as duet combinations, up to tempo and half speed. This makes the material suitable for beginning through intermediate students.

John Marks

Dave has an incredible knowledge of music theory, which has led me to pursue other musical genres instead of just bluegrass. Although one could learn music theory from a book, or on-line sites, Dave has taught me numerous ways to remember different theory based on the layout of the banjo. Playing major, minor, pentatonic (etc etc) scales out of the three chord "shapes" and recognizing patterns from playing out of these chord shapes has helped me immensely. To keep it all interesting, Dave throws in songs to learn based on the theory I am learning. He also stresses backup playing since that is what you will be playing primarily in a group setting.

Keith Drescher

David is an excellent and versatile instructor. I have studied Mandolin and Banjo from him and have taken group classes on Guitar and also Bluegrass Performance. In all sessions, he goes beyond the usual and works on and teaches instrument skills and music/chord theory that will ultimately make the student a better player. He does not concentrate on just teaching songs, but provides tools (rhythm, backup and improvisation) to develop the student.

I recommend Dave Jakubiak’s for all levels of instruction for guitar, banjo and mandolin players including beginners. His group classes are also excellent and he periodically offers 2-hour workshops on a specific instruments. Although proficient in most music genre, Dave excels in Blues and Bluegrass.

Mutzie Schwartz

Dave is an excellent music instructor. I have been studying guitar with Dave for the past two years. I started as a total beginner in his Beginning Guitar Class. I have also been taking his Bluegrass Class for each semester for the past year. I am still a beginner but Dave has brought me to a level of playing I couldn't imagine being able to do two years ago.

Where Dave's specialty is bluegrass, his repertoire is all inclusive. He can and will teach and play in any genre. He will always honor my request to work on something I want as well as what we need to be working on in class. Dave is inspiring, patient, but also demanding in his expectations of me as a student and what he thinks I am capable of. Overall, Dave has brought me further musically that I could have hoped.

Ed Johnson

After taking lessons as a kid and putting my guitar down for the better part of twenty years, I knew exactly what I was looking for in an instructor to resume my play. I was interested in a sound mix of theory, rhythm, and lead. I was fortunate enough to find Dave when I was a resident of Florida and took private lessons from him weekly for the better part of two years. His instruction was exactly what I was looking for.

When I moved to Chicago, it presented a significant challenge to my continuing guitar education with Dave. We decided to attempt continuing our lessons online via webcams. After working out a few bugs, I must admit that I am extremely pleased with the result. We have picked up where we left off in our face-to-face instruction and I am making pretty significant progress with the online lessons. Frankly, I thought that the lessons would have to involve more theory and less play, but this has not turned out to be the case. I am playing just as much as when I was in person, and I am able to see Dave play examples easily, as well. To be honest, there are a few minor challenges: It is more difficult to play a flat-picking song together, and I sometimes have to ask him to show a finger position in greater detail with the webcam, but I consider these to be inconsequential. I find the value of continuing my lessons from a very, very capable instructor with whom I have a history to be far greater. Regardless of our location, I know he’ll push me to be a better musician, and is very talented at passing along his vast knowledge of the guitar (in person and over the cyberwaves).

Allen Medina

"I have been taking guitar lessons from Dave for almost a year now. After 8 months of lessons in his studio, I moved a few towns away making it difficult to take face-to-face lessons. I continue my lessons with Dave over the internet using a webcam. It's great because I didn't have to start new with another teacher. We are able to send music sheets and files over the web. I haven't had a problem using the webcam for lessons. There is next to no delay in video streaming. I definitely recommend lessons from Dave who is an excellent teacher. Thanks alot Dave."

Leslie Kay Drury

"I have just completed my first "remote" lesson via I-Chat, and am pleased to say that the experience was rewarding, and pleasantly surprising. I am traveling for an extended period of time. When home I look forward to the time I devote to my music and lessons with Fretmentor. While on the road my desire has been to continue to devote that same time, and energy to my studies. Through the use of technologymy lessons have and will continue. My business takes me on the roadfrom time to time and some trips are extended. Thanks to the wayFretmentor embraces technology, and utilizes the tools available on the internet I will continue to enjoy my lessons. The lesson was "realtime", and Fretmentor was able to view each exercise as I completed it and to correct and teach as necessary.

Brian Berke

Dave is unique among all the teachers that I have had. Most teachers give you songs to learn and some technique. Dave only starts there. His objective is not just to learn songs (although we learn songs also) but to reallly understand the instrument and how to make music. For the first time I can understand the process that professional musicians use to improvise and play without tabs. He interjects theory in a very informative and easy to understand manner. His lessons are based on the students needs and not just going through a book. My highest recommendation if you live in South Florida within driving range of Jupiter.